Note: Like Execution of Justice, the dramatic action in this play is organized to flow differently from that of other plays this semester. For one thing, Hwang has built his play around himself and quotes from the New York Times and other media sources. And like Execution of Justice this approach to the construction of a play is unique and often challenging to readers. I think the approach is generally effective. It is also suited to be examined thru Ball’s method of analysis. However, I will keep the same set of questions in tact that were asked of Execution.
1. You may identify the stasis in the play but it isn’t necessarily at the beginning of the play. Where is it and who does it involve?
The stasis of the play is the time before DHH finds out that he cast a white actor to play an Asian actor in his play. The play has a revolving set that can be hard to keep track of at times, but is all set in America. A few important locations to the plot of the play were the theatre and casting location of DHH's play and major cities like New York, LA, and San Francisco. The most important characters are DHH, his father HYH, and Marcus "Gee". Other characters that become important after the intrusion are Rocco, Leah, and NWOAOC.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Yellow Face and how is it broken?
The intrusion in Yellow Face occurred when DHH found out tat Marcus was in fact white. Although there was some conflict before this, especially with the Miss Saigon casting, the play really began to pick up speed and spiral because of the actions taken from the new knowledge of Marcus' ethnicity. A clear line can be drawn from that knowledge to his "Asian-fication" to his firing to his rise as a minor Asian actor and so on.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: what is the heart of the play? How does the title figure in this?
This is the day that DHH cast a white actor as an Asian character in his play.
4. State the dramatic question that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
The dramatic question is "Will the fact that Marcus is not Asian come out?".
5. Use Hwang’s “character” to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing each of the lawyers.
DHH's wants throughout the play are; to have Broadway change the way they cast so no white actors play Asian characters, to put on a great play about that experience with the best actor, to fire Marcus, to have Marcus stop claiming he was Asian, and finally to clear his fathers name. Some of the obstacles he encounters are DHH vs society (Miss Saigon, public trial in the press, racism), DHH vs individual (Marcus, NWOAOC), and DHH vs himself (He created this mess).
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Yellow Face.
The most dramatic moment of the play is when DHH and Marcus break the fourth wall and talk about why DHH wrote this play and created Marcus.
1. You may identify the stasis in the play but it isn’t necessarily at the beginning of the play. Where is it and who does it involve?
The stasis of the play is the time before DHH finds out that he cast a white actor to play an Asian actor in his play. The play has a revolving set that can be hard to keep track of at times, but is all set in America. A few important locations to the plot of the play were the theatre and casting location of DHH's play and major cities like New York, LA, and San Francisco. The most important characters are DHH, his father HYH, and Marcus "Gee". Other characters that become important after the intrusion are Rocco, Leah, and NWOAOC.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Yellow Face and how is it broken?
The intrusion in Yellow Face occurred when DHH found out tat Marcus was in fact white. Although there was some conflict before this, especially with the Miss Saigon casting, the play really began to pick up speed and spiral because of the actions taken from the new knowledge of Marcus' ethnicity. A clear line can be drawn from that knowledge to his "Asian-fication" to his firing to his rise as a minor Asian actor and so on.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: what is the heart of the play? How does the title figure in this?
This is the day that DHH cast a white actor as an Asian character in his play.
4. State the dramatic question that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
The dramatic question is "Will the fact that Marcus is not Asian come out?".
5. Use Hwang’s “character” to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing each of the lawyers.
DHH's wants throughout the play are; to have Broadway change the way they cast so no white actors play Asian characters, to put on a great play about that experience with the best actor, to fire Marcus, to have Marcus stop claiming he was Asian, and finally to clear his fathers name. Some of the obstacles he encounters are DHH vs society (Miss Saigon, public trial in the press, racism), DHH vs individual (Marcus, NWOAOC), and DHH vs himself (He created this mess).
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Yellow Face.
The most dramatic moment of the play is when DHH and Marcus break the fourth wall and talk about why DHH wrote this play and created Marcus.